A High Fantasy Adventure

[Alkonium]

Though Curudir didn't trust the Dwarf, he did not say anything, as his mind was preoccupied with the thought of going to Stonehaven. He was divided about the fact that he would be able to get the directions he needed, but that would only lead to further directions, constantly leading him to nothing. On the other hand, he trusted the men there as far as he could throw them. Probably all at once. He'd heard stories of the men at that accursed fort had done to merchants simply seeking shelter from the forces of nature. They'd demand a sizeable portion of their gold and goods just for even the most meagre bedding for the night. And still, most of them did not make it out alive.

 

"There is something he's not telling us, but I intend to find out what it is before we get to Port Jasper." He then said to Radek. "Do you really think he trusts us that much either?"

[Writer]

"Perhaps the Dwarf's secrets will be discovered before we reach Stonehaven," Radek answered, turning to face the man who'd asked a question of him. "As to his trusting us, he'd be a fool to trust us fully... but that is a double-edged sword, for if he cannot trust us, then he has hired us in vain." He frowned thoughtfully and shook his head. Then, his frown vanished and he smiled faintly. "But let us speak no more of our employer's secrets."

 

He glanced back to the Dwarf and chuckled, saying, "Dwarves can be ill-tempered when they are being suspected of excessive secrecy..." Raising his voice, he added, "... isn't that right, Master Dwarf?" He turned fully to face the Dwarf now. "And while we're at it, I don't believe you've told us your name?"

[Master_Archon]

"That went better than I hoped," the elf said with relief.

 

"I agree," Icarian said, his drunken accent gone.

 

"You should probably get out of town before sunrise. There's a merchant leaving from the north gates at sunset. I'm going with him and I suggest you hitch a ride as well, because it might be the only way you can get out of town before sunrise without drawing too much attention to yourself," the bard said taking his shield back.

 

"The name's Eldir, by the way. Some have given me the added name Eastwind Crow, but I don't encourage you use that," Eldir the elven bard introduced.

 

"I am pleased to call you what I want, and what I want I am pleased to call you; I am Icarian Uliea, a nymph by nature, I am a Dryad, a spirit of the trees, I come from the deep reaches of the Black Forest. I am eternally bound to my blade, though what that means, you will have to find out. I was once called Merdys, meaning stubborn in the common tongue, but I was given a name by the ancient races, and I inhereted my sirname from a former elven master, and keeper, may his soul rest easy," Icarian told the bard dramatically, giving a deep bow.

 

"I would gladdly leave the town by the North Gate, but I have a companion to worry about," he told Eldir. "But it would be a greater difficulty finding him, than him finding me, so if you would have it, I will follow you to the North Gate," Icarian told Eldir with a mirth filled smile. With that, Icarian tagged along with the elf, whether he wished for company or not; Icarian's head still wrapped in a cloth.

 

Now Icarian wasn't exceptionally perceptive, at least with his natural senses, basically saying, he was no elf, he had almost normal sight; better than human sight, but not like elven farsight, though he did have true sight, a vision granted only to nymphs, and other mysterious creatures of nature. It was nothing extrordinary. His hearing was, yet again, better than a human's, but not like an elf's. But Icarian had been trained as a scout, a form of a rogue, or, more or less, a thief, so he was well aware of his surroundings at all times, and while he was looking for guards, he noticed something else.

 

'Should I tell him?' He questioned himself, looking back over at Eldir as they went along. 'No, better get a good understanding of the situation before I go spouting my mouth off,' he concluded in thought.

 

"Tell me Master Crow, if I may call you that? Do you have any, relations? Maybe a wife, or child?" He asked, glancing over his shoulder once his questions were asked so he could catch another glimpse of what he had caught sight of.

[Nymf...]

Tale sat down and took some water and a piece of bread, which he had carried from his latest journey. When he ran out of water he grabbed a boy running by.

"Good evening kid, isn't this a bit late for you to be up and running?"

 

"No, not today, I have to help daddy preparing his store for tomorrow, we have a grand sale."

 

"Is that so? Anyway, are you intressed in earning some money? You see I have a waterbag here, and there is a problem. It's empty, could you go refill it for me?" Tale said and gave the boy the waterbag.

 

"Yes, sir!" the boy said and ran away. Tale pulled up his blade and started to sharpen it and strengthend his bow. He looked at the people around the centaur, giving the dwarf suspecious looks. He had been listening half-actively on their conversation, and he could help smiling at his fellow comrades on this job. He didn't really care whether or not the dwarf was hiding something, on the contrary he would have been suprised if he wasn't. Suddenly the boy came running again and gave Tale the waterbag and recieved a payment as agreed.

 

"A pleasure doing business with you, sir." the boy said.

 

"Thanks lad..."

[Black Knight of Keno]

"Murgol of Morlingaad and I don't pay overly curious people. That is all you need to know about me" the dwarf responded to the questions and looked towards the town central, hoping to see the elf on his way there soon. And he didn't have to wait for long either. Eldir led Icarian and, without knowing it, Cia as well towards the dwarf and is cart.

 

"None you should know about and even less of which you should ask about"

The elven bard told Icarian as he walked straight to the dwarf, observing the cart on his way and nodding a hello to the familiar Centaur.

"I'm here, master dwarf. Is this the group you have collected?" Eldir asked and jumped on the cart to sit.

"Aye, lad. He coming with you?" the dwarf responded and pointed at Icarian.

"Yes, even if I do not know for how much of the trip he will be joining us. Trouble with the locals" the bard told the Dwarf who nodded with a smile and sat on the drivers bench of the cart, grabbed a cane on the bench and whacked both of the beasts pulling the cart so they would get a move on.

"Everyone who's coming with me and expecting pay, I'd advise you to follow" the Dwarf called out before the oxes crossed to outside the town.

 

Cia had been noticed by Icarian, true, but he had not reacted to her and so she could follow Eldir all the way to the North Gate safely. However, her plan went sour when a ranger Centaur stepped in front of her and blocked her from walking over to Eldir to return the pouch.

"Only a thief walks with as light of a step as yours even on city streets. Are you following someone or going to join the group, for you may not pass if it is the first one" Skarra told Cia with a hand raised towards her signaling for a stop.

[Corinthian]

Kadis nodded at the dwarf's words. He was obviously none too bright - declaring that he doesn't pay the curious pretty much blatantly declared that whatever was in these carts was either questionable, illegal, or highly dangerous.

 

Not that it was going to dissuade him from coming with them. Anything but, it made the prospects even more attractive. All he'd need to do was figure out what the Dwarf was hiding and then alert the officials, after he'd leveraged his knowledge into a sizable block of gold. Blackmail would also be effective, but Dwarves tended to be suspicious and wary, even the idiots among them. Alternatively, he could attempt to steal the goods, but attempting to get away with a full cart of goods without a coterie of men aiding him would be a feat in and of itself. Of course, if he were hauling contraband, he'd have it buried in crates of grain or something similar. Otherwise, this Dwarf was going to need to drop a series of extremely hefty bribes.

 

He increased his pace, catching up to the cart.

 

"Before I walk halfway across the world guarding whatever you've jammed into the back of this cart, Dwarf, I want to know - what are you paying us?"

 

The Mercenary's Creed: Never do anything until payment has been properly and clearly arranged. Charity was for fools. The lack of any clear number placed on this job suggested the Dwarf wasn't being entirely honest, but then again, he had already as good as admitted to hauling contraband, so an apparent lack of honesty was hardly shocking.

[Writer]

However, her plan went sour when a ranger Centaur stepped in front of her and blocked her from walking over to Eldir to return the pouch.

 

"Only a thief walks with as light of a step as yours even on city streets. Are you following someone or going to join the group, for you may not pass if it is the first one" Skarra told Cia with a hand raised towards her signaling for a stop.

 

 

Cia's eyes narrowed. "I do not follow to steal, but to return." She held up the pouch. "But perhaps you might do the deed and save me the trouble of explaining how it came to me. It belongs to the Elven bard. He dropped it upon entering the city. It was picked up and discarded once, and I got it from the ground. The connection to the bard was made when he observed me in the tavern and came over for a chat. She extended the pouch to him.

 

"If you wish to block my path, then I will not complain," she finished. "But the pouch must be returned, so if you insist on keeping me from my goal, you must complete it yourself."

[Black Knight of Keno]

Skarra looked at the thief before swinging his hand and grabbing the pouch from her.

"I will take this to him, for I do not trust you near the Dwarf's cart. I am not being payed for naught" he noted as he checked the pouch and turned to see the cart leaving with most of the assembled group. The Centaur gave another glance at Cia before giving a loud groan and rushing after the cart. While he was on his way, he still checked his belt so that he had everything he should.

 

"Eldir" Skarra called out as he approached and threw the pouch. The elven bard managed to only just catch the pouch and looked inside, a mile appearing afterwards on his lips. The bard looked back towards the thief.

"We could use you on our trip. If you want a safe trip to Stonehaven or Port Jasper, come with us" the bard shouted to the thief while sitting on the back of the cart, on top of the crates.

[Master_Archon]

"None you should know about and even less of which you should ask about," Eldir told Icarian.

 

"'Well, that leaves only a few options open for who the lady is who was following us,'" Icarian muttered to himself. Icarian only smiled at the dwarf when he asked about Icarian, who slowed his pace down so the cart, and Eldir would get ahead of him.

 

"Only a thief walks with as light of a step as yours even on city streets. Are you following someone or going to join the group, for you may not pass if it is the first one," Icarian heard someone say behind him. Icarian was curious, it seemed the stalker was found out, by somebody else though, he wanted a closer look, actually, he wanted a look period, he didn't have eyes on the back of his head after all.

 

"I do not follow to steal, but to return." Came the voice of a female, somewhat elven by what Icarian could tell with his training. "But perhaps you might do the deed and save me the trouble of explaining how it came to me. It belongs to the Elven bard. He dropped it upon entering the city. It was picked up and discarded once, and I got it from the ground. The connection to the bard was made when he observed me in the tavern and came over for a chat." The voice continued.

 

"If you wish to block my path, then I will not complain," She finished. By this time Icarian had slowed down so much he was moving at a snail's pace, and facing backwards at that, as he observed and listened in on what was occuring behind him, though, more like in front of him now. "But the pouch must be returned, so if you insist on keeping me from my goal, you must complete it yourself."

 

"I will take this to him, for I do not trust you near the Dwarf's cart. I am not being payed for naught" The centaur said to the elven woman, actually, half-elven from what Icarian could note about her appearance and voice, the two things that helped him distinguish a person most when 'scouting'. But, unfortunately, Icarian was so caught up 'scouting' he didn't notice the centaur rushing towards him, luckily he went by Icarian, but the nymph was still caught offguard, and ended up landing on his duff in the dirt.

 

"Ow, that hurt, I need to pay more attention," Icarian said, but was unable to continue further as a rough, cold hand lifted him bodily from the ground.

 

"I knew I would find you at one of the gates, what were you thinking!? Nevermind, the trade agreement with this town fell through, I wasn't able to get any notable answers from them so I left," came the not-too-pleased voice of Icarian's friend, 'Seth'. "What is this, a caravan?" He asked the Dryad.

 

"Yeah, it seems so," Icarian told 'Seth'.

 

"We could use you on our trip. If you want a safe trip to Stonehaven or Port Jasper, come with us," Icarian caught from up ahead, coming from the cart calling out to the half-elf.

 

"From what I can tell they're paying, and we do need the money 'Seth', so how about we join? You wanted to go to Port Jasper anyway," Icarian continued to tell the reformed Yuan-Ti.

 

"Fine, I'll ask the dwarf, but the centaur better not try to trample me, or I'll give him a bite he'll remember!" 'Seth' told Icarian, still a bit agitated.

 

"'Please don't, I just made a new friend with the bard, I don't need you ruining it by biting someone,'" Icarian muttered after 'Seth'. Icarian watched as 'Seth' went towards the cart, and then he began to untie the cloth from his head, his springy red hair bouncing up immediately, as if it had been waiting to be freed. Icarian paused, looking between the half-elf and the cart which was still moving slowly away from them. Icarian walked after the cart finally, but he moved slowly so he could 'guard the rear'.

[Writer]

Cia was startled by the bard's offer. Who in their right mind offered a thief a place in a caravan? "Thanks," she said, finally finding her tongue, "but I think..."

 

"But you think you'll be joining us," Radek cut in, dropping back to glare at the half-Elf. At the sight of the warrior, Cia's face drained of color.

 

"Radek," she gasped. With a small grin, he nodded.

 

"Hello, Ciannait," he replied. "Now, come along."

 

Obediently, Cia fell into line with him, moving along after the cart... though how these two knew one another was a mystery, even to Skarra.

[Alkonium]

Curudir was sharpening his blades when he noticed Radek speaking to the dwarf. Though he doubted Radek could get any real information from him, he still wanted to know if he found anything out. For now he waited for the discussion to end, content to sharpen his blades with what crude tools were available.

 

After a while, Curudir looked up again, and saw Radek talking to an elf who appeared to have just arrived. He figured this would be a good time to talk to Radek about the dwarf, so he got up off the small boulder he was sitting on and went over to the two of them.

 

"Get anything from our employer?" He asked Radek, and suddenly realising he hadn't properly introduced himself, added, "I'm Curudir, by the way. Curudir Therias."

[Black Knight of Keno]

((Hello, this is a bump. Bump!))

 

((Do something you buggers!))

[Writer]

((Wow. Big bump. Suppose it's fitting that, since my lack of post is what seems to have killed it before, I'm the one to give it a writing kick.))

 

 

"Radek," the man answered. "And no, I have not. He has stated his dislike for continual questioning. I intend to leave him alone for the time being. My advice to you: be prepared for anything."

 

And with that, he turned away, leading Cia by the arm, and followed after the Dwarf's cart, by now just passing through the city gates. Cia shifted uncomfortably, trying to free her arm, and though it didn't look like Radek was holding her very hard, she could not pull her arm away.

 

"Let go of me," she hissed softly.

 

"Not this time, Cia," Radek answered sternly. "Last time I did that, someone ended up dead."

 

"But he deserved it," Cia snapped defensively. Radek glared at her.

 

"That is not your decision to make," he scolded.

 

"But you agree!" Cia countered defiantly. "You know better than I the things he did, the suffering he caused."

 

"But to put him through some of the same sorts of suffering is inhuman," Radek argued. Cia shot him a smug grin.

 

"I am not human." Radek raised his other hand, threatening a slap to the face. Cia barely flinched.

 

"You are governed by the same laws we all follow," he said, dropping his hand without slapping her. "You have just slipped up on a few of them."

 

And so they continued, with Radek firmly grasping Cia's arm, and Cia trying to free it.

[Black Knight of Keno]

The cart moved swiftly forwards, being pulled by strong beasts of burden at the front. With the speed they were going down the road, the lights of Kolirum-Masaar swiftly disappeared into the darkness of the upcoming night. The dwarf opened one of the crates the cart carried and gave a signal to Eldir to start handing out the torches inside before lighting them. He passed a torch to Skarra and lit it so he could go ahead of the group and light up the road as they went. He also handed a torch to Radek, Curudir and Icarian, lighting them and finally getting one for himself.

 

By what Skarra estimated, at the speed they were traveling they would arrive to Stonehaven the next evening if they didn't rest. From there it would be a three-day journey to Port Jasper. He highly doubted that they would skip rest since the group had been swiftly collected and looked like they had only just returned from their individual trips. This would extend the time of their travel to Stonehaven by a few hours, but Skarra did not mind. As long as he got paid and managed to get some direly needed supplies.

 

Unbeknownst to the group, their moves were being watched. From far away on the hills ahead of them, a lone figure crouched and blended into his surroundings in the darkness. The lighting of torches had taken the interest of a bandit scout who now waited to determine how strong the group was escorting the cart. By the looks of things, the cart seemed to hold something valuable, new that would come welcomed to the leader of said bandit scout. With a light chuckle the figure disappeared from the hill, rushing northwards for the bandit camp to inform them of the approaching group. The cart and it's escorts wouldn't know what hit them.

[Nymf...]

Tale went in the middle of the group, observing the other ones. Torches were lit and handed out to a few. Tale looked on the stars and feelt a small breeze in his face. It was peaceful, and quite. Tale considered it to be a beautiful night, even if it was very dark. He started to whistle a few tunes, while the cart picked up speed.

 

Tale stopped the whisteling, and once again, he started to think it was to quite. He didn't see, nor did he hear any animals, or any sound at all from the bushes. Not even an owl. But maybe it was always like that. Tale knew he hadn't been much in these areas, so he couldn't say much of the wildlife thereabout, especially not during the night. Tale could hear and see very well compared to many others, but nothing was there to be spotted. So Tale took his bow and placed it on his back instead of holding it.

 

One of the people carrying was an elf, and for some reason this elf seemed closer to the dwarf than the others. Tale went towards him started to walk beside him.

"Beautiful night, isn't it?" He said to Eldir.

[Master_Archon]

'Seth' moved up alongside of the swift moving cart with ease, he swiveled his head t look at the dwarf in the twilight, his mouthless face speaking, "so dwraf, I hear you're going to Port Jasper, and that you're hiring. I so happen to need two things you're offering: a journey to the Port city, and money. Would you have me protect you and your goods? Or do you not trust the likes of me, and would rather have me leave?" 'Seth' asked, his course voice an unpleasant sound in the quiet night.

 

******

Icarian clutched the torch with his hand as if it were the most valuable, and yet, dangerous thing he had ever been given in his life. The Dryad scout was not comfortable around fire, it made him nervous, though that was a natural reaction for his kind, he was a tree spirit after all, burning was just a natural fear of his. Lucky for the group he had been trained against his fears, and wasn't all too worried about the fire after he had been holding it for awhile.

 

Icarian kept to the rear, it was one of two favored positions for a scout, to be at the rear allowed him to watch behind them, as well as have the advantage of observing the group up ahead, and the surrounding area, to see if any immediate harm was waiting near the people ahead, that they themselves could not see. The other advantageous spot for him was actually being away from the group, ether far off to one side, left or right side, or far up ahead, doing what scouts do best....scouting. but the group seemed to be a bit unorganised compared to what Icarian was used to, so being at the rear was best for him.

 

Icarian, however, was one who did not stay too dedicated to a task when he didn't have a way of entertaining himself, or someone to talk to, so it was just his luck that he wouldn't have anyone to talk to, and so he began to pick up his pace to get closer to the majority of the people so he could find someone to conversate with.

 

Icarian observed the people to see who was free. The dwarf was driving his cart, and didn't seem the talking type, on top of that 'Seth' was discussing business with the dwarf. The bard was being talked to by an elf with an odd, yet amazing bow. Icarian caught sight of the half-elf woman and an odd man from the group, and decided to approach the pair.

 

"Hello! My name is Icarian Uliea, fey by nature, and a Dryad by sorts, scouting is my profession. May I ask your titles, or is that a secret?" Icarian said and asked as he approached the two, a smile on his face. Icarian looked from one to the other and frowned, "I'm sorry, I was bored, and it's my nature to talk to people, if I'm bothering you two I'll go, three's a crowd after all. Don't want to interupt you two love birds," Icarian said rather remorsefully, he now saw, up close, that they were, from his perspective, holding hands, and he honestly didn't want to disturb them in any way.

 

((Ugh, sorry, this post was crap! Couldn't think of anything better to post!))

[Black Knight of Keno]

"Aye, that it is" Eldir answered and chuckled as he glanced at the skies.

"Now quite what one would write songs about, yet still quite beautiful" the elf noted as he turned his eyes on Tale. The bard smiled to see the elven man. He had noticed Tale when the group left, but hadn't had the time to approach him for a talk.

"You're elven. From Vieroe no doubt due to your more slender figure. I myself come from far in the east. From Anar Doth to be exact. The ancient city of the Wild Elves that has stood there before the Great Forests retreated from Oerk" Eldit told Tale before extending his free hand for a shake of hands.

 

---

 

Far ahead on the road, Skarra knelt down after something caught his eyes on the ground when the torch light hit it. He touched the ground beside him before glancing upwards into the darkness. The ground was different, disturbed. The ranger knew exactly what it meant, but could not be sure of how long ago had the bandit crossed the road there. Swiftly Skarra put out the torch and unsheathed his swords as he turned around and tried to use all of his senses to locate anything around him. The eery silence had been disturbing, but this could only mean a bandit ambush.

 

Just then a small group of bandits launched from the shadows, an arrow hitting the Centaur's quiver. An arrow that had been meant to disable him. The Centaur rose on it's hind legs and kicked and slashed at the bandits around him, seeking for a moment when to warn the rest of the group. When he found that place, he picked up his horn and blew on it, giving an alert from ahead of the group.

 

---

 

Eldir jumped on his feet the second Skarra's horn rang the alarm.

"Weapons out! Throw the torches in a ring around the cart!" the dwarf screamed and Eldir did as he was told, throwing the torch near the cart, but still into the darkness. This revealed, to his surprise, several bandits already lunging at them as if from nowhere. Eldir pulled out his sword and jumped off the cart before lunging into battle.

"Don't let them have the crates!" the dwarf continued to shout before grabbinghis warhammer and starting to smash bandits who attempted to grab the reins of the cart.

[Corinthian]

"You've got to be kidding me."

 

Reluctantly, he jerked his buckler off his belt and unsheathed his sword, mostly making a good show of it - he didn't risk his neck until after he'd been properly apprised of his pay and the bloody Dwarf was STILL dodging that question.

 

Some idiot ran up to him, brandishing some pathetic excuse for an axe. Slash. Parry. Counter-slash, averted, riposte, blocked, quick thrust...the brief battle was over in a matter of seconds, the little bandit sliding off the end of his blade, gasping for air as he slowly went pale. He stomped on the dying man's throat, feeling the windpipe crush under his boot.

 

"Much better. Didn't even get blood on my boots that time."

 

The bandits seemed to be on all sides, and that was bloody unfortunate. He snorted quietly and scrambled up onto the cart. He dropped his buckler and grabbed the reins, steadying the panicky horses.

 

Some dolt grabbed the side, desperately trying to scramble up onto the cart. A quick slash of a blade sliced half his face off, a second severed his hand. The man screamed, a terrible pathetic wail that filled the night as he tumbled down and fell by the side of the cart, only to have his breath fully extinguished as the cartwheels drove over him, nearly cutting him in half.

 

Kadis settled back, keeping the horses at a sedate pace. The clash of melee made an interesting backdrop, too. He began to whistle a little tune under his breath, a jolly little tavern song he'd learned back in Port Jasper in his early days.

[Nymf...]

Tale shook his hand. " Anar Doth, you say? Can't say I've been there." And then heard a horn blowing. "What was that?"

 

"Weapons out! Throw the torches in a ring around the cart!"

 

Tale grabbed his bow and an arrow, took aim and shoot on of the bandits. He then moved beside the craters, and from nowhere a dagger came flying. The dagger hit Tale in his left shoulder, and Tale fell to the ground with the dagger stuck on him and then hit his head on a stone and went unconscious.

[Rachel_Ewok]

Arivan was sitting in a tall tree, watching the excitement. The shadows from the nearby party's torches were sending dancing shadows across her face, partially hidden by a dark green hood. She had been watching this odd little group, led by a dwarf for a while now, then the bandits had attacked. She was watching, and waiting, debating whether or not she should show herself and help ward off the bandits or watch and wait for another time.

 

A few more seconds passed, there were still a few bandits left, the elven archer was down and whatever the dwarf was carting seemed to be important, it was a good time to drop in. She prepared her swords, and dropped down out of her tree, into the fray. She landed, with cat-like grace and was up behind a bandit in seconds flat, she slit his neck with her siver sword, and flipped backwards dodging another bandits sword. She engaged him in a silly combat for a few moments, then ended it as she stuck her other sword into his heart.

 

Just as she began to sheathe her swords another group of bandits emerged from the bushes. "No way!" She groaned, Why didn't I see them?" She mumbled to herself. She stood next to the dwarf who was standing by the cart. "There aren't so many." She said excitedly. "C'mon Master Dwarf... There's enough of us to take them out." She winked, and charged into another bandit, who was much better at swordplay. "Gonna be a while here." She grunted.

[Corinthian]

Everything went by like a flash of lightning. Some other imbecile scrambled onto the back of the cart, waving a shoddily-forged scimitar around like it's a torch or a flag. Idiot. He spun around, going for a quick combination shield-bash followed by a slash. But the idiot was quicker than he looked, although probably no smarter. He ducked under the buckler and parried the sword.

 

He retaliated with a quick thrust that punched through his ringmail and leathers. Pain shot up his side and he could feel blood slowly running down his chest. He grimaced, but it didn't feel too bad. The bandit pulled back slightly, a grin breaking across his face. Kadis bent over, clutching the wound in his chest. The Bandit moved forward again, raising his scimitar to finish him.

 

He bulled forward, catching the bandit by surprise and driving him backwards to the edge of the cart. Their swords forgotten, it became a melee of fists and feet as each strove to beat the other into submission. Kadis smashed the man's face into the back of the cart, only to be dropped onto his back by a scything kick. The Bandit drew his dagger, driving for Kadis' throat. Kadis grabbed his wrist, holding the knife back, then rolled to the side, dropping off the cart and slamming into the ground. Something popped in his side as he impacted, and then the bandit was at the cart reins, driving it away. He coughed, mumbling a fairly rich Dwarven curse under his breath.

 

His sword, amusingly, was fairly close by. He grabbed it and pushed himself to his feet, doing his best to ignore the bleeding and the hard breathing. He couldn't feel the bone poking out, at least.

 

The bandits of the first group seemed to have mostly dispersed or been killed, aside from the one little bugger who nicked the wagon.

 

He readied his sword and tried to run after it, only to halt a few steps later, cut short by the pain in his side. He grabbed his ribs, groaning as he flopped against a tree. He reached into his pack and withdrew a swatch of clean linen and pressed it against the hole in his gut, hoping to staunch the bleeding. That's going to be a chink in my reputation...

[Rachel_Ewok]

Ari watched in aggrivation as the cart rolled away. She shot a few arrows at it, but it was no use. She only hit the cart, not the man driving. She kicked a rock in frustration. "We were this close." She said to no one in particular. "Great now what?" She asked the dwarf. "I suppose we should go after it?" Then she remembered the elf that had fallen. She hastened to his side, he had hit his head, but it wasn't too, too bad of a wound. She kneeled over him, and put her hand over his forehead, she whispered a few elven words, and then pulled out a pouch of dried leaves and sprinkled them over his head.

 

She stood up, and noticed the eyes of the other various party members on her. "Uhm.... Old Elvish healing techniques... He should be okay." She shrugged off her hood, and tossed a lock of red-blonde hair over her shoulder.

[Corinthian]

He returned to where the rest of the group had gathered, surrounded with the corpses of the dead and the dying bandits. He spat, a thin spray of blood running out of his mouth and going over the face of one of the dead scum.

 

"It got away. Sorry, but ambush is my bane."

 

He resisted the urge to draw his dagger and tickle a confession after the little serpentine midget. It'd made a bloody mess, and he didn't want to dye his boots today. "You've got a lot to answer for, Dwarf. But I'll start my line of questions with what you were hauling. This wasn't just a standard bandit attack, this was an ambush. They knew you'd be hauling, and they wanted it."

[Rachel_Ewok]

Arivan stepped in front of the burly dwarf. "Back down." She snarled at Kadis. "We've been through alot. I say we make camp for tonight, and Master Dwarf can explain everything to us over a nice warm campfire. We all have questions."

[Corinthian]

"We!? WE!? Who's we!? Who the hell are you, anyway?" Anger exploded out of Kadis like Hellfire. "I'm pretty reasonably certain that I don't remember you being with the caravan at the gate, Elf, so maybe you'd like to explain why you've been stalking us." In truth, the Elf didn't bother him so much. Paranoid as he was, the girl had helped them with the Bandits. But getting uppity when he asked a completely legitimate question was incredibly irritating.

 

Still, he had to admit, a campfire sounded nice. He'd need to clean and bandage his wound, and set these ribs.

 

He threw up his hands. "Fine, if it makes you two snakes more forthcoming, we'll have a fire."